Dear Believers of the Future, 

Thank you for accompanying us as we continue to accumulate and pursue our grand vision of continuous innovation and reform.

In a blink of an eye, the Alliance Cultural Foundation (ACF) is celebrating its tenth anniversary! Looking back, I was against the eastward migration of industries and the development of an express highway to Hualien, with the hope of buying some time for Hulian and Taitung (Huatung) before the local culture and businesses could stand firmly on their own. This vision persisted when I assumed the role of Chief Convener for the Tourism Bureau’s International Spotlight Project, advocating for the concept of slow travel to truly immerse in Huatung’s culture. Over the past decade, rapid changes have taken place, ACF has nurtured young talents in Taitung, supported tribal conservation efforts, and promoted rural education. Our aim is to facilitate a shift in teachers' thinking and teaching philosophies. 

In response to the school's development needs, Junyi successfully transitioned into the “Junyi School of Innovation” in August 2019. The next phase of our mission is to effectively implement international education, ensuring that under-resourced children residing in remote areas can receive quality education. Through the “Innovative Study Abroad Education Fund” provided by ACFI (The Alliance Cultural Foundation International) in Taiwan and the United States, we have, to date, supported 10 Junyi students in pursuing overseas education. Among them, 5 are enrolled in two-year community college programs in the United States, and 5 are attending various branches of UWC (United World Colleges) in countries such as Canada, Germany, Polynesia, Costa Rica, and the Netherlands.

In September 2019, I, along with Director Angela and Deputy Director Mei Chiang,  visited the United States and Canada. During this visit, we expressed our gratitude to local volunteers and donors, shared the work of our public service platform, and visited several community colleges. 

In considering the future of education in Taiwan, ACF's primary focus remains on the transformation of teachers and the education system. Ms. Wei-Ying Lan, Director of the “Junyi Teacher Training Program” has been driving the "108 Academic Year Accompaniment Program" since 2018. This program provides year-long guidance and support to primary and secondary schools or teacher communities. Over 120 schools have received this support for the 108 Academic Year. In response to this growing demand, Ms. Lan established the "Education Support for Taiwan" in May of this year to train more educational consultants to work alongside teachers in schools. ACF has also supported the "Sharestart Method" for nearly four years by now. Sharestart key teachers have matured in their instructional content and have been actively fostering teacher communities across the country. This year, they collaborated with The Hugo Foundation of Culture and Education and the Teacher Training Center at National Chiayi University to host the "Sharestart Method Asian Annual Conference" in Chiayi. Additionally, Mr. Hui-Cheng Chang plans to establish a foundation in 2021 to promote the Sharestart Method in Chinese-speaking communities. Furthermore, we have been commissioned by the Ministry of Education for the third time to jointly organize national Annual Induction Training for New Teachers for newly appointed teachers in partnership with the Master's Degree Program in Teacher Education at National Changhua University of Education. Over three years, we have engaged 258 top teachers to deliver 1,310 classes and have trained over 200 experienced teachers annually to serve as co-learning mentors, supporting more than 2,500 newly appointed teachers each year. This "Educational Learning Community" has become a vital support network for newly appointed teachers. This year, we systematically transferred our event organization and execution expertise to the team at National Changhua University of Education's Master's Degree Program in Teacher Education. All these efforts reflect our commitment to applying administrative expertise to enhance the education sector's effectiveness.

Summer has always been the busiest season for ACF. Through the collaborative LUMA project with Vox Nativa Taiwan and Wisdom Culture and Education Organization, 13 indigenous youth, following over a year of training, embarked on a journey to the United States, for the UNITY (United National Indian Tribal Youth). Their month-long itinerary also included visits to Chicago, the Bay Area, and Hawaii. These invaluable learning experiences continue to empower our students with the capacity to lead and drive change. 

Every summer, Junyi's school buildings are never idle with summer camps following one after another, such as choir camp, English camp, the national autonomous car race, and the Taitung culinary classroom. These programs have inspired touching stories among camp participants turned volunteers, or educators, often sparking greater ambitions in rural children, some of whom did well internationally. The Hualien English Camp has become a sought-after opportunity for local children. In the next decade, we plan to transform the English camp through collaboration with Taipei American School, offering themed workshops. Through Taiwan Connection (TC), we promote music appreciation in schools and corporations, enriching the cultural lives of rural children. 

Hualien and Taitung are the last pristine land of Taiwan, with indigenous culture being a vital resource, teaching urban dwellers how to humbly coexist with nature. In March, I was invited by Taitung County Mayor  to speak at the Taitung County Government's two-day consensus camp. I shared my vision for Taitung's development in the next decade: to become a regional transit hub. Taitung serves as the gateway to Orchid Island and Green Island, the connecting point for Hualien and Pingtung. Over the past two years, we've been deeply involved in Changbin and Fengbin Township, designing routes for immersive, slow travel experiences. We've also invited media to explore these areas, providing a platform for local businesses, returning indigenous youth, and artists to connect with the world, fostering friendships between nature, culture, and the global community.

As I am reviewing our works, for the mature projects, we are training their independence, while for those with sustainability, we share our experiences, hoping to spread our impact to every corner of Taiwan. In my past writings, I mentioned that "identifying problems in this era is not difficult, coming up with solutions is possible, the greatest challenge is rolling up our sleeves and putting ideas into practice!" Each project of the foundation may seem like a small piece of the puzzle, but when all the pieces come together, it forms Hualien, and even the larger puzzle of Taiwan's sustainable future. On our tenth anniversary, I express my deepest gratitude to every "investor in Taiwan's future hope," volunteer, and foundation partner who has contributed financially and with their efforts, as well as to those on the frontlines of our mission. Having you on this philanthropic journey is truly wonderful!

Chairman

Stanley Yen